Comiket 108 Guide: Tickets, Entry & Heat Plan

Comic Market 108 is not an event where you can simply arrive, join any line and enter for free. You need the correct day-specific ticket or wristband, and the suitable choice depends on what you want to see, when you can arrive and how much outdoor waiting you can safely handle.

C108 will take place at Tokyo Big Sight on August 15 and 16, 2026. The participating genres and circles change between Day 1 and Day 2. Early Entry has already sold out, while AM and PM entry products remain subject to availability.

This guide turns the current official rules into one decision sequence: choose your day, choose AM or PM, confirm your entrance, prepare for heat, and keep a realistic no-entry Plan B.

Quick answer: what should a foreign visitor do?

Use this order:

1. Open the official Day 1 and Day 2 genre table before buying anything. The contents change completely each day.
2. Choose an AM Entry wristband if getting inside from around 11:00 matters and inventory is still available. The published price is ¥1,210 in stores or ¥1,331 for the eplus e-ticket, including its listed system fee.
3. Choose a PM Entry wristband if entering after 12:30 is acceptable. The official published price is ¥440 in advance at participating stores or ¥1,000 for planned same-day on-site sales.
4. Buy the product for the correct date. There is no two-day ticket.
5. Do not buy a resale listing and do not expect free entry. Bring the physical wristband or valid e-ticket process required by the organizer.
6. If you will cosplay, arrive in ordinary clothes and use the official changing room. Do not change in a toilet.
7. Check the official Tokyo heat alert and WBGT shortly before departure. Drink, rest and cool down; leave the queue if your condition deteriorates.

Information checked August 1, 2026. Ticket availability, queue operations, weather, entry routes and safety controls can change. Reopen the official C108 pages immediately before purchase and departure.

Step 1: choose Day 1 or Day 2 before buying a ticket

C108 runs on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, 2026. Tickets and wristbands are sold separately for each day. The official FAQ says there is no multi-day product.

Do not choose a date based solely on which one is easier for your itinerary. First check whether your target genre, circle or corporate booth is operating that day.

The official international page provides a hall-by-day table. In broad terms, the two days divide and rearrange game titles, anime and manga categories, original works, criticism, travel and transport, cosplay, software and corporate exhibitors. It also notes that East Halls 4–6 are closed for construction.

Use this three-check method:

1. Search the official Comike WebCatalog International for the circle or genre.
2. Confirm the date and hall on the current C108 international page.
3. Buy a wristband for that date once the first two checks agree.

If you have several priorities in different halls, write your top three in order. The organizer warns that movement between the South/West and East areas includes a longer outdoor section during this construction period. A plan that crosses the site repeatedly increases both walking time and heat exposure.

Step 2: choose the entry type that matches your real goal

Early Entry: already sold out

Early Entry was sold by lottery and is marked sold out. Its listed base price was ¥5,000, with separate East and South/West entrances. Cosplay Changing Room Early Entry had a listed base price of ¥3,000 and is also sold out. The official page lists an additional ¥385 ticket-issuance system fee for these lottery tickets.

These are not realistic options for a new buyer on August 1. Do not use a reseller as a workaround. The official ticket page says resale is prohibited and resold tickets or wristbands are invalid.

AM Entry: earlier access, limited inventory

AM Entry joins the line entering from around 11:00, after Early Entry.

The official published prices are:

• ¥1,210 for a store-bought wristband;
• ¥1,331 for the international eplus e-ticket, including the listed system fee.

Participating sellers listed by the organizer include Animate, Toranoana and Melonbooks. Inventory is location-specific, and a sold-out store may not be restocked. Foreign visitors who cannot use a Japanese store can check the eplus route linked by the organizer. Eplus capacity is also limited and first-come-first-served.

An eplus QR code is not the final wristband. The organizer says exchange starts after 8:00 near the Rinkai Line station. Receive and wear the actual wristband before joining an entry line. The page also warns that the exchange timing will not place you at the front of the AM queue.

PM Entry: cheaper in advance, later access

PM Entry starts after 12:30.

The official published prices are:

• ¥440 at participating stores;
• ¥1,000 for planned same-day on-site sales.

The organizer expects a significant queue for the on-site sale and recommends buying in advance. PM is the practical choice when you mainly want to experience the event, browse the halls or reduce early-morning heat exposure. It is a weak choice if one limited item is your main reason for going.

Step 3: use the ticket decision table

Before payment, confirm five details on the official page or sales screen:

• Day 1 or Day 2;
• AM or PM;
• store wristband or eplus exchange;
• refund conditions;
• how you will carry the actual product to the venue.

Official C108 tickets and wristbands are non-refundable after issue, including if the event is cancelled. They also cannot be reissued if lost. A screenshot or photo is not a substitute for a required physical ticket or wristband.

Step 4: get to Tokyo Big Sight without relying on one route

Tokyo Big Sight lists two main rail approaches:

• Rinkai Line: Kokusai-tenjijo Station, about 7 minutes on foot.
• Yurikamome: Tokyo Big Sight Station, about 3 minutes on foot.

The Rinkai Line connects with the JR Saikyo Line toward Osaki, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. It also connects to Shin-kiba. The official C108 ticket page recommends the Rinkai Line and places the eplus wristband exchange near that station.

The Yurikamome approaches from Shimbashi or Toyosu and stops closer to the venue. “Closer” does not guarantee a faster event arrival: transfer crowding and your assigned entry route can matter more than the final walking distance.

Use this route rule:

• If you hold an eplus AM QR code, follow the current organizer map to the Rinkai-side exchange.
• If you already have a physical wristband, compare live congestion and service status for both railways.
• Save both station names before departure. If one line is disrupted, recalculate rather than following yesterday's route screenshot.

For IC-card basics and transfer mistakes, read the Tokyo trains guide.

Five entry mistakes to avoid

1. Buying the correct ticket type for the wrong day

Tickets are date-specific. Recheck the day and your target hall immediately before payment.

2. Arriving without the required physical item

Bring the actual wristband, or complete the organizer's eplus exchange process. The official FAQ says a forgotten wristband means buying same-day PM entry if available.

3. Going to the venue overnight

The organizer explicitly prohibits overnight waiting. It creates safety and neighborhood problems and does not provide an advantage over people arriving in the morning.

4. Treating “11:00 entry” as an exact personal admission time

AM is the queue that starts entering after Early Entry. Your own movement depends on exchange, arrival, line position, congestion and safety controls. Do not schedule a fixed purchase five minutes after the published start.

5. Crossing the site repeatedly without a heat plan

East Halls 4–6 are closed, and the organizer warns that the South/West-to-East route is longer and includes outdoor walking. Group purchases by hall rather than bouncing between distant targets.

Cosplay: arrive in normal clothes

You may use the C108 changing rooms after entering, but the organizer requires a ¥500 registration fee for the first changing-room entry each day.

The essential rules are:

• Arrive and leave in ordinary clothes.
• Do not change or apply makeup in a toilet.
• Keep the event wristband with you.
• Ask each cosplayer before taking a photograph.
• Do not block a walkway for a photo.
• Check the current prop, costume, baggage and changing-room rules before packing.

The official page says you may be denied entry if you arrive already dressed in cosplay. A costume that is acceptable inside a managed cosplay area is not automatically acceptable on a train, in a hotel lobby or on the street.

If your costume traps heat or limits vision, movement or ventilation, treat that as a safety constraint rather than a styling problem. The official heat page specifically warns that full-body and tight costumes can retain dangerous heat.

Heat plan: drink, rest and cool down

This is not a generic summer warning. The organizer's C108 heat page says heat illness has occurred both inside and outside the halls. It reports that more than 90% of users of C104 first aid had heatstroke symptoms; that is historical context, not a prediction for C108.

Before leaving your accommodation:

• Check the official Tokyo heat alert and WBGT.
• Sleep properly and eat breakfast.
• Carry water or a sports drink, a hat, a cooling towel or ice pack, and quick-drying layers.
• Decide in advance what symptom or alert level will make you delay or cancel.

During the event:

• Drink regularly instead of waiting until you feel thirsty.
• Rest away from emergency exits and the flow of people.
• Use shade or air-conditioned spaces without loitering on private property.
• Leave a line if you feel dizzy, nauseated, confused, unusually weak or unable to cool down.
• Tell nearby staff or another person early. Do not wait until you cannot move safely.

C108 first-aid rooms are listed at the East 1 Hall organizer's office, Conference Tower 1F and South 1 Hall 2F, from 7:30 to 18:00, ending at 16:00 on Day 2. The organizer also states that these rooms provide basic first aid, not full medical treatment. Recheck locations and hours on the event day.

For a fuller safety process, use the Japan heat survival guide. For supplies you can buy after arriving in Japan, see summer cooling items.

Plan B: what if you cannot enter?

AM is sold out

Check the official advance PM routes. Do not buy resale. Entering after 12:30 is a smaller experience than your original AM plan, but it is safer and valid.

You forgot or lost the wristband

The organizer does not reissue lost products. The official FAQ's fallback is to purchase same-day PM entry, subject to the event's current sale and queue conditions.

You bought the wrong day

Do not assume staff can exchange it. Tickets are non-refundable and date-specific. Reopen the official sales page and decide whether buying the correct day still makes sense.

The queue or weather is unsafe

Leave. A paid wristband is a sunk cost, not a reason to ignore heat symptoms. Move to a legitimate cool place, tell staff if you feel unwell, and seek medical help when needed.

Entry is no longer possible

Switch the day from “Comiket or nothing” to an anime-shopping route. The Akihabara Quick Guide gives you a practical station-based plan. It will not recreate Comic Market, but it preserves the trip without relying on invalid tickets or an unsafe queue.

For wider event preparation, read the Japan festival survival guide.

Save this C108 checklist

Before buying:

• □ I checked the official Day 1/Day 2 genre table.
• □ I chose the correct date.
• □ I chose AM or PM based on a real priority.
• □ I used an official route, not resale.
• □ I understand the no-refund and no-reissue rules.

Before leaving:

• □ I have the physical wristband or valid exchange plan.
• □ I saved both rail approaches and the organizer map.
• □ I checked the current heat alert and transit status.
• □ I packed water, cooling equipment and light layers.
• □ I have a no-entry Plan B.

Frequently asked questions

Is Comic Market 108 free to enter?

No. Each attendee needs a valid ticket or wristband. The organizer says there is no free-entry option for C108.

When and where is Comiket 108?

C108 is scheduled for August 15 and 16, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Tokyo. Check which genres and circles appear on each day before buying a date-specific product.

What is the difference between AM and PM entry?

AM joins the queue entering from around 11:00 after Early Entry. PM entry begins after 12:30. AM costs more and may involve earlier outdoor waiting; advance PM is cheaper but gives you less time inside.

How much do C108 AM and PM wristbands cost?

As checked on August 1, 2026, the official page lists AM at ¥1,210 in stores or ¥1,331 through the linked eplus route. PM is listed at ¥440 in advance or ¥1,000 for planned same-day on-site sales. Recheck before purchase.

Can I buy a wristband at Comiket on the same day?

The organizer lists PM entry after 12:30 as the on-site sales option and expects a significant queue. Other entry types must be obtained in advance. Availability and operations can change.

Can I arrive at Tokyo Big Sight in cosplay?

No. The organizer requires cosplayers to arrive and leave in normal clothes and use the official changing rooms. Changing or applying makeup in toilets is prohibited.

Which station should I use for Tokyo Big Sight?

Kokusai-tenjijo Station on the Rinkai Line is about a seven-minute walk, while Tokyo Big Sight Station on the Yurikamome is about a three-minute walk. Eplus AM exchange is located near the Rinkai Line side, so check the current organizer map.

What should I do if heat or crowds become unsafe?

Leave the queue, move to a legitimate cool place, loosen excess clothing, drink fluids if you can, and notify staff or someone nearby. C108 has basic first-aid rooms, but persistent or severe symptoms require appropriate medical help.

Sources and editorial note

The principal claims were checked on August 1, 2026, against the Comic Market Committee's international participant page, C108 ticket rules, heatstroke guidance, cosplay guidance and international map, plus the official Tokyo Big Sight access page and Rinkai Line site.

This is an independent travel decision guide. It is not affiliated with Comic Market, Tokyo Big Sight, eplus or any ticket store. AI-generated images are editorial atmosphere and do not document C108 operations, ticket appearance, crowds or gate layouts.